From the time it was only about over-the-air broadcast networks, television has changed a lot. The number of individuals seeking television nowadays without considering cable or satellite providers is fast rising. One often-asked question is if it is feasible to have a television running only on an internet connection. Indeed, you can do that. Here's a quick tutorial on your options and how you can see TV via the Internet.
Streaming TV Services
Therefore, the main approach to cord-cutting is to utilize live TV streaming services accessible without a cable or satellite connection. Among the common choices are:
YouTube TV
For a $64 monthly subscription, YouTube TV offers about 85+ channels. Among the channels are the big networks—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC as well as the cable networks ESPN, HGTV, FX, and others. Additionally allowing you to view on up to three devices at once and with limitless DVR capability is YouTube TV.
Hulu + Live TV
With over 75+ channels, the Hulu live TV plan is $69. 99 per month. This particularly relates to Hulu's whole portfolio of episodes and movies accessible for streaming at any moment, not merely its live television feature. With 50 hours of storage and two streams available at once, Hulu Live boasts a cloud DVR capability.
Sling TV
Sling TV basic package goes for $35 every month and offers more than 30 channels. You can also opt for additional packages to further enhance the number of channels in your bundle. Cloud DVR storage and the number of streams allowed at the same time depend on the selected package. Sling is one of the cheapest streaming TV services out there in terms of price.
FuboTV
The target niche of FuboTV is sports and entertainment. Basic packages start from $69. 99 a month with over 120 channel packages. The streaming services offered by FuboTV come with 250 hours of cloud DVR and allow for up to 3 streams at the same time.
The main advantages of these services include no contractual agreements and no requirement to rent equipment to watch on several supported devices, both inside and outside of the home. The disadvantage is that some do not provide your specific regional networks or the local cable channels.
Media Streaming Devices
To watch internet TV, you'll need some type of media streaming device connected to your television: To watch internet TV, you'll need some type of media streaming device connected to your television:
Smart TV Platforms
Some of the smart TVs that are newer models come preloaded with streaming applications, which can be used to download and access services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and other similar applications without the need for extra gadgets. Some of these smart TVs come with apps for the live TV streaming services mentioned above.
Streaming Media Players
Streaming players such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV plug into your TV and let you access streaming apps. Prices start around $25-$50. Most of the streaming players also support the mirroring of the content you are displaying on the screen of your mobile device.
Game Consoles
Home theatre systems such as Xbox and PlayStation are also media centers. Moreover, you can enjoy streaming video services through apps and other features that include gaming, Blu-rays, and others. Remember, one has to buy the console and then pay an additional fee for online gaming.
So, if you have a high-speed internet connection capable of streaming video (a minimum of 8-25 Mbps is advisable), a media streaming device is all you require to ditch cable and stream your favorite TV shows.
On-Demand Streaming Services
Besides the real-time TV broadcasting services, there are standalone subscription-based video-on-demand platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, which have an enormous library of movies, TV shows, original series, etc. that are available for streaming on-demand.
These services do not stream live channels but the content available is huge, it may seem like having a choice of a lifetime. The monthly prices average from $5 to $15 per month.
OTA Antenna for Local Channels
For those who wish to add extra local broadcast stations from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and many others to Internet TV, one can get an OTA or an over-the-air antenna. These local stations for news, sports, and entertainment can be received from the indoor/outdoor antennas.
OTA antennas enable you to tune and program local broadcasts like cable. An antenna is particularly powerful when used in conjunction with given streaming possibilities, as it provides an effective cord-cutting setup.
The Bottom Line
So, you can find numerous streaming services, devices, and pieces of content to enable you to cut the cable and satellite contracts entirely. By using a combination of on-demand content, live streaming of the shows, and an OTA antenna for getting the local content, you can recreate and personalize a complete TV-watching experience over the internet for a cheaper price.
So to answer your question in short – Yes, you definitely can watch TV with just an internet connection. It will only require some changes here and there but overall it will always be cheaper.